By Chris Parker
Lamar girls basketball will rely on a trio of seniors for leadership this year. Kara Morey (guard), Elisea Daniels (power forward) and Sierra White (guard) will be an experienced core.
“(They) bring experience on the floor and will be looked at to help lead this team to a successful season and conference championship,” Lamar head coach Mandy Moyer said.
Morey earned honorable mention all-conference honors as a junior after she averaged 8.6 points, 3.5 assists, 2 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. She is a great shooter who knocked down 53 3-pointers last year.
Daniels missed her junior year due to injury. She brings is a strong presence on the interior both scoring and rebounding. She can step out and knock down shots as well.
White averaged 9.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2 steals per game last year. She is a lock down defender for the Lady Tigers.
Juniors Josey Adams and Emma Johnson return with varsity experience. Adams is a strong outside shooter who can also get to the basket. The point guard averaged 2.5 points to go with 2 assists and steals per game last year. Johnson returns to the court after suffering an ACL injury mid-season last year.
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Moyer expects good things out of Lamar’s sophomore class.
“We were lucky to get some summer ball in and saw great things out of this sophomore group,” Moyer said. “They are the future leaders for Lady Tigers and excited to see how this group develops. They all have the potential to give us minutes this year at the varsity level.”
That group includes: Ashlyn Stettler, Kenndney Evans, Marcy Miller, Kiersten Kinney and Phajia Gordan. Stettler is a strong outside shooter. Evans is a hard-working guard that also brings shooting. Miller and Kinney will both play in the post. Gordan is a strong rebounder who will look to help fill the shoes of the graduated Halle Miller down low.
Consistency will be key for Lamar this year.
“This team does not lack experience. Consistency, communication and mental toughness are areas we struggle with throughout the season,” Moyer said. “Leadership and recognizing the effort it takes to win will be vital to our success this year. We need to have a strong start and go into Christmas break with confidence and know the effort it takes to win and be competitive.”
Lamar has big goals this year looking to win the program’s first conference title since 1999, which was Moyer’s senior year playing for the Lady Tigers.
“Our biggest games on this year’s schedule will be our opponents on the Big 8 West side of the conference. As a team we know conference is up for grabs. We haven’t had a conference championship since 1999 and will fight hard to bring one home this year. I look for us to be a team who will be competitive,” Moyer said.
Lamar opens the season on Nov. 20 at home against Neosho.
